In a first, Gujarat building two air-filled rubber dams using South Korean technology

Gujarat is constructing its first two air-filled rubber dams using South Korean technology to improve water storage, irrigation and flood management, the State government said on Monday (July 6, 2026).

The two projects are being built across the Heran River at Rajvasana village in Chhota Udepur district and the Ambika River at Pathakwadi village in Tapi district at a combined cost of more than ₹162 crore.

The Rajvasana Rubber Dam, being constructed at a cost of ₹82.97 crore, is 75% complete and is expected to be commissioned by September 2027. The project will directly benefit 25 villages by providing irrigation to 3,420 hectares of farmland.

The government said the 180-metre-long rubber dam will increase the existing weir’s storage capacity to 3.5 million cubic metres (MCM), helping improve groundwater recharge and the availability of irrigation and drinking water.

Officials said the inflatable rubber structure can be deflated during heavy monsoon flows, allowing floodwaters and silt to pass through while reducing the risk of flooding. The project also includes the construction of flood protection walls along both banks of the Heran River and a 10-year operation and maintenance plan.

The second project, the Pathakwadi Rubber Dam in Tapi district, is being built at a cost of ₹79.13 crore and is 90% complete. Once operational, it will provide assured irrigation to about 650 hectares of agricultural land in Pathakwadi and nearby villages.

According to the government, the dam has been designed to Japanese engineering standards and will use an air-filled rubber bladder imported from South Korea. The rubber bladder, measuring between 18 mm and 32 mm in thickness, is designed to withstand temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius and has an estimated service life of 30 years.

The Pathakwadi project will also feature a SCADA-based automation system that will automatically inflate and deflate the rubber bladder based on operating requirements.

The government said the rubber dam will store 3.5 MCM of water, improve groundwater levels, support irrigation for Kharif and summer crops, and help reduce soil erosion and flooding during the monsoon by allowing floodwaters and silt to pass downstream when the structure is deflated.

Officials said the projects are part of the State’s efforts to strengthen water conservation and irrigation infrastructure under the Centre’s “Catch the Rain” campaign.